Before Nov. 28, the 27-year-old Family of Woodstock employee was paying $800 a month in rent to live in a one-bedroom apartment. Now she has a home to call her own.

"About a year-and-a-half ago, I decided I was paying way too much rent and I wanted to buy a home." Weiss said. "I knew I would need somebody to be by my side."

Today, Weiss lives in a four-bedroom, mid-19th century home on a one-block street off Clinton Avenue, thanks to a first-time homebuyers program run by Rural Ulster Preservation Co. (RUPCO) in partnership with the city's Office for Community Development.

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"I am so happy to be here," said Weiss, who's engaged to be married.

On Friday, RUPCO boss Kevin O'Connor, Kingston Mayor Shayne Gallo and others gathered inside Weiss' new home to highlight the program the agency has run for more than 20 years.

Gallo said homeowners like Weiss "really (are) having a positive influence" on city neighborhoods.

O'Connor said the program helps people find homes and bring "stability" to their lives and also serves to better neighborhoods.

Besides the city, RUPCO partners with Realtors and Ulster Savings Bank to help run the program.

In order to qualify for the program, applicants must earn no more than 80 percent of the local median income. In Ulster County, a family of four would have to have a household income of no more than $59,100 to qualify, O'Connor said.

He said RUPCO gives participants in the program $25,000 toward a down payment and closing costs.

Last year, the agency helped 40 people buy homes, created $4.6 million in mortgages for banks and used $534,566 to make purchases happen, O'Connor said.

The agency also paid $449,663 to contractors for rehabilitation work on the homes, he said.

In addition to providing money for down payments and closing costs, RUPCO will pay for some renovations, such as new windows, overhead lights, carpet over lead paint stairs, new basement steps, roof shingles and chimney repairs.

Weiss paid $120,000 for her new home. That breaks down to $909 per month for her mortgage, taxes, interest and insurance.

The home, built in 1855, has four bedrooms upstairs, a sun room, a kitchen, two bathrooms, a full attic and a fenced-in backyard.

Weiss also participated in a first-time homebuyers' education program and a saving program.

Editor's note, Jan. 26, 2013: This story has been updated to correct the cost of the house. The dollar amount initially provided to the Freeman was incorrect.